Cardiff Blues top their group in the Anglo-Welsh Cup following a deserved victory in a pulsating match, with a late try by scrum-half Jason Spice snatching a losing bonus point away from the Tigers.

The east midlands side can, mathematically, still qualify but the group is likely to be decided when Bath visit Cardiff Arms Park on Friday night. The Blues showed early intent when skipper Paul Tito stole the Tigers' first line-out and the home side, with fly-half Nicky Robertson's boot pegging Leicester back, dominated the early exchanges.

But two long-range penalties from Kiwi full-back Ben Blair were all they had to show for it and the Tigers gradually came back into the game.

A crunching tackle by Dan Hipkiss on opposite number Jamie Roberts earned them a kickable penalty, but Springbok Derick Hougaard put it wide, something he proceeded to repeat with two drop goal attempts.

Burly Fijian wing Seru Rabeni, making his first start of the season, caused chaos in the Blues defence with a rampaging run from his own 22, but the move broke down when his forwards conceded a penalty.

It needed excellent defence by Blues wing Richard Mustoe to prevent Leicester capitalising on a breakaway led by number eight Jordan Crane and taken on by scrum-half Harry Ellis.

The Blues came near when back row Andy Powell, newly selected for the Wales squad, flattened Hougaard in a bullocking gallop and the move carried on by Gareth Williams and Roberts was only ended by a controversial forward pass decision by English referee Dave Pearson.

Hougaard needed treatment, but picked himself up to put the Tigers on the board with an injury-time penalty. Teenager Leigh Halfpenny, another uncapped Blues man called up by Wales coach Warren Gatland, began the second half with a 50-yard dash from his own line as
the Welsh region showed a new willingness to run the ball.

The Blues' first try was not long delayed. Roberts knifed through from a scrum to allow fellow centre Jamie Robinson to touch down under the posts and give Blair an easy conversion.

Hougaard kept the Tigers in touch with a second penalty, but an incredible 90-yard run by the 19-year-old Halfpenny took play deep into the visitors' 22 only for another forward pass ruling to foil Robinson's clear run to the line.

The Leicester pack were beginning to make their power felt and replacement Julien Dupuy and Tom Varndell were each held up short as the visitors piled on the pressure, Hougaard eventually settling for another penalty.

The Blues swept back down field from the restart but Robinson failed to hold onto the ball with the try-line begging. Blair was just off target with a penalty, before slotting over a much simpler one after Leicester dithered in defence.

The Blues were now on top again and Spice's late try, converted by Blair, confirmed their superiority.